The Syrian Yazidis Struggle from the Microcosm of Basufan Village
In the verdant expanses of Afrin, part of Aleppo’s northwestern countryside in Syria, sits the Kurdish Yazidi village of Basufan. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it bears remnants of its Byzantine era past, but the village is now more known for a present marked by struggle and resistance. Its inhabitants, the Yazidis, are an ethnic-religious minority, whose fight for recognition and against persecution has become their defining narrative.
The Yazidi People and Their Faith
The Yazidis are a unique community with Kurdish roots, traditionally residing in small communities across northern Iraq, northwest and northeast Syria, and southeast Turkey. Yazidism is a distinct faith that individuals are born into, not one that allows for conversion. Their New Year, known as Red Wednesday, is a celebration of life and renewal, marked by prayers, the lighting of fires, and gatherings with family and loved ones.
However, this distinctiveness has also made the Yazidis a target for unjust perception and brutal attacks. They have often been labeled as heretics by certain Islamist factions, leading to a history of persecution that culminated in the 2014 attack by the Islamic State (IS) terror group. This horrifying act, which saw thousands of Yazidi men executed and women abducted, has been equated to genocide by the United Nations.
The Yazidis of Basufan: A Struggle for Survival and Recognition
In the aftermath of the IS attack, the Yazidis’ existence has become increasingly precarious. Reports by Syrians for Truth and Justice have shown that the Yazidi community’s suffering continues, further exacerbated by subsequent atrocities carried out by various military factions, including those allied with the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC).
Some military factions have been accused of numerous violations against the Yazidis, including confiscating properties and lands, desecrating Yazidi holy places and graves, and persecuting Yazidis practicing their religion and traditions. Particularly alarming are reports of Yazidi women in the Afrin region being arbitrarily detained and subjected to enforced “conversion to Islam.”
The Demographic Shift and Displacement
The ongoing persecution and conflict have led to a significant demographic shift. Once home to nearly 3,500 Yazidis, Basoufan now barely hosts a few dozen residents, mostly the elderly who have chosen to stay despite the threats. The Turkish invasion in 2018 drastically altered the demographic composition of Afrin’s 22 Yazidi villages, reducing a thriving population of 25,000 to less than 5,000.
The Struggle for Recognition and Rights
The Yazidi community’s struggle goes beyond survival — it’s also a fight for recognition and rights. The Syrian government has historically not recognized the Yazidis as a separate religious entity, acknowledging only the Abrahamic faiths — Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. This has led to the Yazidis having to follow judgments handed down by courts that specialize in Islamic personal status law, further marginalizing them.
In addition, the Yazidis have faced discriminatory practices under the rule of the Baath Party in Syria, including challenges in accessing education, securing employment, and purchasing properties.
In response, civil groups like Ezdina and the Syrian Yazidi Council have been advocating for constitutional recognition of the Yazidis, and for guarantees to safeguard their political and civil rights. These initiatives aim to raise awareness about the Yazidi religion and their societal presence, countering misinformation and false narratives.
The Yazidis’ struggle, as seen in the microcosm of Basufan, serves as a reminder of the need for greater understanding, tolerance, and recognition for minority groups. It is a call for action, urging us to ensure the Yazidi community’s distinctive culture and faith are preserved, respected, and celebrated. We must strive to amplify their voices, elevate their stories, and ensure their rights are upheld. As we bear witness to their plight, we are compelled to advocate for their recognition, not just within the Syrian constitution, but on a global scale.
This is a plea for the international community to rally in support, and to challenge the systemic injustices and persecution the Yazidis face. Only through such collective effort can we hope to secure a future for the Yazidi community where they can live freely, practice their religion without fear, and contribute to their societies without the constraints of discrimination or prejudice.
This article is rewritten from my podcast “Beyond Babylon.” You can listen to the full episode: “Yazidis in Syria” hereunder.
